Fitting an External Door Frame

External Door Frames

Our door frames are manufactured from premium selected tropical hardwood, chosen for its durability and quality.  In addition to the frame, you will receive a solid hardwood sill (however, please note this will vary in colour to the frame), as well as a weather seal and waterbar set.  The frame is supplied flat packed and unfinished, therefore the wood will need to be finished on site, prior to assembly.  All our frames are also 100% PEFC Certified.

You will need to ensure you have taken accurate measurements and have a frame which will fit properly in the rough opening with a minimal gap between the frame and the walls.

Our frame pieces might need to be trimmed to size.  If this is the case you need to make sure you have the correct type of saw to cut the material the frame is made of.  You also need to ensure the fixings you use are suitable for the frame and the wall you are fixing it to.

Our frames consist of two side pieces known as jambs, a head piece which goes across the top and a solid hardwood sill which spans the bottom.

External frames are rebated to accept a 44mm thick door and our frame is supplied with a recess for weather strips which need to be installed later.  The weather seal is supplied with the frame.

Always check the rough opening is square.  You can check this by measuring diagonally across each corner and these measurements should be within 5mm of each other.

Assemble Frame Parts

Lay the frame on a clean, dry floor or appropriate surface where there is enough space to assemble it.  Fit both jambs into the recesses in the head and sill and attach the weather bar into the groove in the sill.

You should use a weatherproof adhesive sealant on all joints as well as screwing them together.  Always check the instructions.

Check that all parts of the frame are straight and level and plumb as you fit them.  You might need to fit the sill to the rough opening and then fit the rest of the assembled frame, or the sill will be fitted to the frame as you assemble the other parts.

Screw the pieces together for a permanent fix, making sure that the frame remains square as you fix each piece.  Use packers to position the frame in the opening and to ensure a completely level surface to install the frame on to.

Squeeze a bead of waterproof caulk around the rough opening, either side and across the top.  Use two or three beads at the bottom of the sill.  This will help hold the door and will also provide a waterproof seal around it.

Carefully fit the frame into the opening.  Place the sill in position with the frame tilted outwards and push in to the opening.  Make sure the sill is completely straight and level and check all the parts of the frame are aligned correctly so the door can open properly.

Once the frame is correctly positioned you can use appropriate fixings to secure it in the opening, usually fixing it in four or five places down each jamb and in two or three places in the head, continually checking the frame remains square.

Fixings are normally placed within the rebate of the frame.  Make sure you use the correct masonry drill for  the fixings to be used.  Fill the gap around the frame with expanding foam for insulation and seal all round the edges with silicon caulk.  The finished frame should have no visible gaps where it joins the wall.